Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-07-08

sacred and deep for utterance what
matters it who shall keep the oattIe flags
They passed into your hands in brave
and manly combat untouched by dishon.
er, after baptism in blood that made
the gray jacket a mantle
of glory. Your people should
greet them as ours. They are in the
hands of our government and to whom
our honor should be as dear as their own.
Never again will our old battle flags wave
In strife. They have gone down forever,
but they went down in glory and honor.
They are dead, and we live and follow
alone now the living flag which floats
from Key West to Behring's S'raits, from
Bunker Hill to San Francisco.
Speeches were also made by Gen. W. f.
Daley Smith, Gen. Joshua /. Owen, Gen
Isaac P. Wister, Col. John 1. Taggart and
other for the blue" and by Col. Chas. 7.
Loehr, secretary of Pickett's Division as
sociation, Col. j. F. Crocker, Col Robert
NJ. Stibbling, DR.. j. A. Marshall, Col. Ten
sleum Smith, Col. Kirk Otey and others
on behalf of the gray"
John w. Frazier, secretary of the com
nlttee OF arrangements, stated that let
tiers Of regret had been received from the
president and his cabinet, and from Sem
Sherman: Gov. Fitzhugh Lee, Hon. Geo.
W. Childs, George William Curtis, Charles
A. Dana and others.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER WAS READ.
1t was rs follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, !
WASHINGTON, June "A.
have received your invitation to at
tend, as guest of the Philadelphia bri-
gade, reunion of the ex confederate sol
di.rs Of Piokett's division, who survived
their terrible charge at Gettysburg, and
those of the Union army still living, by
whom 1t was heroically received. Frater-
nal meetings of soldiers upon the battle
held, where twenty-four years ago in
deadly fray they fercely sought each
Others lives; where they saw their COM
rades fall and where all their
thoughts were of vengeance and
destruction, illustrate the general i'm
pulse of brave men and their
honest desire for peace and reconcilia-
ton. The friendly assault there to be
made will be resistless because inspired
by American chivalry, and its result will
be glorious because cong quered hearts will
be as trophies of success. Hereafter
this battle field will be consecrated by
victory which shall presage the end of
the bitterness of strife, the exposure of
sincerity which conceals hatred by pro-
fessiOn of kindness, the condemnation
of frenzied appeals to passion
for unworthy purposes aud the
beating down of all that stands in the
way of the destiny of our united country.
While those who fought and who have
so much to forgive, lead in the plea SAINT
ways of peace, how wicked appears the
traffic in sectional hatred and BETRAYAL of
patriotic sentiment. 1t surely cannot be
wrong to desire the settled quiet which
lights for the entire country the path of
prosE Gritty and greatness, nor need the
lessons of the war be forgotten and its
results jeoparized in the wish of
that genuine fraternity which
will inspire national pride and
glory. | should be very glad to &C
cept your invitation and be with you at
this interesting reunion, but other ar
rangements already made and my official
duties here will prevent my doing so.
Hoping that the occasion will be as sue
cessful and useful as its promoters can
desire, am yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Senator Sherman's letter which has al
ready been published was also read.
THE UTMOST ENTHUSIASM PREVAILED
during the whole proceedings, and after
the reading of the presidents letter was
finished three cheers were given for the
president of the United States.
The festivities lasted till late hour,
and then the first camp fire ever held be-
tween the blue and the gray was over.